Device for printing and cutting characters



D. B. JONES Nov. 20, 1956 DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND CUTTING CHARACTERS Filed 001:. 17, 1952 INVENTOR DAVID $.JQNES A-r'rozuafrs United States Patent DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND CUTTING CHARACTERS David B. Jones, Athens, Ohio Application October 17, 1952, Serial No. 315,364

'7 Claims. (Cl. 101-298) 2 symbols, etc.

Still another object is to provide an imprinting device of the type stated which will be novelly formed in a manner to permit ready assembly or disassembly of selected indicia with one another, thus to permit the imprinting device to be used for imprinting any selected combination of indicia.

Still another object is to provide an imprinting device of the type described above which is so formed as'to make use of an ordinary piece of pressure-sensitive tape,

the device constituting the present invention being so formed as to first cut into said tape the outlines of the letters to be imprinted, and then force the cut-out portions directly into the object to be imprinted, with the remaining, unused par of the tape being readily peeled 01f at the completion of the operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imprinting device as described which is so formed as to make use of a plurality of type cores associated with complementarily formed type stocks, the type cores having limited sliding movement relative to their associated type stocks, with the type stocks being adapted to mark or cut the edges of the letters to be imprinted, and with the type cores being thereafter shifted past the type stock cutting edges to imprint into the object the indicia defined thereon by the type stocks.

Still another object is to provide an imprinting device of the type stated in which the entire operation of imprinting the indicia in the book cover or similar object will be carried out by a simply exerted pressure, thus to eliminate the use of heat and other aids during the imprinting operation.

Still another object is to provide an imprinting means wherein the type cores and their associated stocks will be carried in a type case, said type case being mounted upon one end of a swingable arm, thus to permit the entire case to be gripped as a handle and swung against the object to be imprinted.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like 7 Patented Nov. 20, 1956 ice Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the type case, taken on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view in which portions have been broken away, showing a type core and its associated type stock, the core being partially removed from the stock;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a type core and stock used when the indicium is of the compound type rather than the simple type shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation through a portion of the type stock of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10 has been applied to a flat base plate, said base plate being rectangular in outer configuration in the present instance. It will be understood that the outer configuration of the base plate can, of course, be varied as desired.

At one end of the base plate 10 there is provided a pair of upstanding, closely spaced, parallel ears 12, said ears having transversely aligned openings receiving a pivot bolt 14, the pivot bolt 14 serving to connect to the ears one end of an angular positioning arm 16.

The positioning arm 16, as shown in Figure 2, is formed substantially to an L shape, with a long leg and a short leg, the short leg being extended through the space between the ears 12, and having an opening receiving the pivot pin 14.

A type case has been designated generally at 18, and is fixedly but separably secured to the free or outer end of the arm 16 by means of a clamp or band 20.

The clamping band 20 extends fully around the case 18, and has spaced apart end portions 22 (Figure 4) embracing between them the free end of the arm 16. A screw or bolt 24 extends between the end portions 22, and when tightened serves to engage the clamping band 20 securely about its associated case 18.

The case 18, as shown in the drawings, is of generally box-like formation, and includes a housing 26 formed open at its upper and lower ends. The clamping band 20 extends about the housing 26, intermediate said open ends of the housing.

Applied to the open upper end of the housing 26 is a cover 28, said cover having a depending peripheral flange extending about the housing.

A knob 30 is secured to the cover 28, intermediate the opposite ends thereof, the knob 30 being grasped by a users hand when the device is being operated for the purpose of imprinting the cover of a book or similar object.

Formed in the opposite end walls of the rectangular housing 26 are short, vertical slots 32 (Figure 3) receiving an elongated key 34, said key extending longitudinally and centrally of the housing, below the cover 28, and being extended through openings 36 formed in opposite ends of the flange of the cover.

It is seen that the key 34 serves to connect the cover to the housing 26, while at the same time permitting the cover to have limited sliding movement upon the housing, in the direction of the lower end of said housing.

Removably positioned within the type case is a plurality of type cores 38. The reference numeral 38 has been applied, in this connection, to only some of the type cores, these being type cores used for simple, rather than compound indicia. By the term simple is meant a. letter, number, or other marking in which no space defined by the letter is closed oif completely from the space surrounding said letter. Thus, the letter J shown in Figure 5 is a simple letter. However, the letters D, B, or O are all compound letters, since each of these letters has an enclosed space cut off completely from the area surrounding the letter.

The construction required for compound letters will be discussed in detail hereinafter, and for the time being, only the simple letter construction will be discussed.

Each type core used for a. simple letter or other indicium has been designated generally at 38, as previously noted, and is adapted to be associated with a coniplementarily formed type stock designated generally at 40. The type core 38 includes, at one end, an enlarged head 42, said head 42 being disposed in contact with the underside of the cover 28, as shown in Figure 3.

Each head 42 has a transverse opening 44 extending therethrough, the transverse openings 44 of the several enlarged heads registering and being adapted to receive the key 34.

In this way, the several type cores, whether they be of the simple or the compound type, are all assembled with one another and with the cover 28, in a unitary assembly no part of which is movable relative to any other part.

Integral or otherwise made rigid with each head 42 is an elongated body 46, said body having, at one end, an imprinting face 48. The imprinting faces 48 of the several type cores can be flat surfaced if desired, or can be convexed, should it be desired to form letters having rounded depressions throughout their lengths.

The several type stocks 40 are circumposed about the bodies 46 of the type cores, the type cores having limited sliding movement relative to their associated type stocks, in the direcion of their lengths. Each type stock, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, is provided with keyways 52 at opposite sides thereof, said keyways being complementary to keys 54 formed on and extending the length of the inner surfaces of the front and back walls of the type case housing 26.

Thus, the several type stocks are assembled with one another and with the type case housing 26 in a unitary assembly, no part of which is movable relative to any other part. The assembly comprising the housing 26 and type stocks, however, is movable relative to the assembly defined by the cover 28 and the several type cores.

That end of each type stock 40 disposed adjacent the imprinting face 48 of its associated core is formed with an opening complementing the imprinting face 48, said opening being shown at 58 and having downwardly flanged edges 57 forming cutting blades 59 defining the outline of a character to be formed.

Reference should now be had to Figure 6, wherein is shown a type core and stock assembly used if the letter is of the compound type.

In Figure 6, the type core has been designated by the reference numeral 60, the type core having an enlarged head 62 like the head 42. An opening 64 is extended through the head 62, registering with the opening 44, to

receive the key 34.

Integral or otherwise made rigid with the head 62 is an elongated body 66, said body 66 having a non-circular cross sectional configuration, and being adapted to have limited sliding movement in a type stock 68.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, two or more type stocks are associated with each type core 60, due to the compound nature of the letter. Thus, if the letter is, for example, as shown in Figure 6, there would be two type stocks, namely, an outer stock 68 and an inner stock 7%. The inner stock 79 would be disposed within a suitable bore formed in the type core, the inner stock '70 having a cutting edge that would define the inner, continuous edge of the letter O, the outer type stock 68 having a cutting edge that would define the outer, continuous edge of the letter O. The imprinting face of the type core 60, meanwhile, would be shiftable through the space defined between the cutting edges of the inner and outer type stocks.

If the compound letter should be such as the letter B,

there would be two inner type stocks, and one outer type stock.

In any event, the inner and outer type stocks are fixedly connected together, and to this end, openings 72 are formed in the inner and outer stocks, said openings registering with one another, and with slots 74 formed in the body 66 of the type core. Pins 76 are extended through the registering openings and slots 72, 74, said pins serving to fixedly connect the several type stocks to one another, while at the same time permitting the type core to have limited sliding movement relative to the connected type stocks.

As Will be appreciated, the provision of an enlarged head 42, or 62 as the case may be, upon each type core defines a circumferential shoulder on said core, and interposed between said shoulder and the associated type stock is a compressible washer 56. The compressible washer 56 has a particular purpose, in that it controls relative movement of the type cores and stocks.

In use of the device, an object to be imprinted, such as the cover of a book, is first provided with a blank of pressure-sensitive paper such as that shown at 78. The object to be imprinted, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, has been designated generally by the reference numeral 80, and is the cover of a book. It will be understood, of course, that other objects capable of being deformed under pressure can be imprinted, and it will be further understood that the imprinting can be used for identification purposes, or for any other purpose found desirable.

In any event, the base 10 is positioned under the cover of the book, as a back-up plate, and the knob 30 is grasped. The entire type case is then swung from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2.

At this time, the compressible washers 56 will not compress, and the ordinary pressure exerted when the case is swung downwardly against the pressure-sensitive tape 78 will be efiective to cause the cutting edges of the several type stocks to cut through said paper while supporting the cores in their retracted positions relative to the case.

As a result, the type stocks will, in effect, cut out the letters to be imprinted.

A further downward pressure is now applied against the knob 30, and this further pressure will be effective to cause compression or other deformation of the several washers 56. This causes the cover 28, and the several type cores, to move downwardly relative to the housing 26 and the several type stocks.

The imprinting faces of the several type cores will thus be shifted through the spaces provided at the lower ends of the type stocks, and the type cores will be forced into the cover of the book, forcing into said cover the cut-out letters of adhesive or pressure-sensitive tape.

The case is then swung upwardly to its normally inoperative position shown in Figure I, and the remaining portion of the tape is peeled off the cover. The operation is now complete, and it will be seen that the cover will have letters deeply imprinted therein, said letters or other indicia being transversely depressed if desired, and having, at the bases of their depressions, the cut-out letters of adhesive or pressure-sensitive tape.

Of course, the tape can be of any color, thus to increase the attractiveness of the imprinted markings.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted; a positioning arm pivotally connected to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case containing openings carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object, said type case providing cutting means defining the outline of a character to be formed; a series of type cores secured together for simultaneous movement relative to said case, having reduced ends received in said openings, slidably carried within the case and having imprinting faces adapted to be projected beyond said case and forced into said object on swinging movement of the case thereagainst; deformable resilient material supporting said cores in retracted positions relative to said case; and means interengaging between the case and said cores to hold the same assembled with one another; said cutting means and cores being adapted to engage said object in sequence.

2. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a flat base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted, to define a backup plate for said object; a positioning arm pivotally connected to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case containing openings carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object; a series of type cores secured together for simultaneous movement relative to said case, having reduced ends received in saidopenings, slidably carried within the case and having imprinting faces adapted to be projected beyond said case and forced into said object on swinging movement of the case thereagainst; deformable resilient material supporting said cores in retracted positions relative to said case; a series of type stocks associated with the type cores within the case and having cutting faces arranged to mark the edges of the indicia to be imprinted prior to the projection of said cores; and means interengaging between the case and said cores to hold the same assembled with one another.

3. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a flat base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted, to define a back-up plate for said object; a positioning arm pivotally connected to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case containing openings carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object; a series of type cores secured together for simultaneously movement relative to said case, having reduced ends received in said openings, slidably carried within the case and having imprinting faces adapted to be projected beyond said case and forced into said object on swinging movement of the case thereagainst; a series of type stocks associated with the type cores within the case and having cutting faces arranged to mark the edges of the indicia to be imprinted by the cores; and compressible means interposed between the cores and stocks supporting said cores in retracted positions relative to said stocks and adapted to be compressed following movement of the cutting faces of the type stocks into said object, for movement of the type core faces into said object following marking of the indicia edges by the type stocks.

4. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a flat base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted, to define a back-up plate for said object; a positioning arm pivotally connected to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case containing openings carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object; a series of type cores the type cores within the case and having cutting faces arranged to mark the edges of the indicia to be imprinted by the cores; means interengaging between the type stocks and case to hold the stocks against movement relative to the case, means slidably supporting said cores relative to the stocks; and compressible means interposed between the cores and stocks supporting said cores in retracted positions relative to said stocks and adapted to be compressed following movement of the cutting faces of the type stocks into said object, for movement of the type core faces into said object subsequent to marking of the indicia edges by the type stocks.

5. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a flat base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted to define a back-up plate for said object; a positioning arm pivotally connected to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object, said case including a box-like housing and a cover mounted on the upper end of the housing and having limited sliding movement thereon in the direction of the lower end of the housing; a series of type cores secured to said cover and slidable therewith within the case and having imprinting faces adapted to be projected beyond said case and forced into said object on swinging movement of the case thereagainst; a series of type stocks circumposed about the type cores within the housing and having cutting faces arranged'to mark the edges of the indicia to be imprinted by the cores; means interengaging between the type stocks and housing to hold the stocks against movement relative to the housing, said cores having limited sliding movement relative to the stocks; and deformable resilient means interposed between the cores and stocks supporting said cores in retracted positions relative to said stocks and adapted to be deformed following movement of the cutting faces of the type stocks into said object, for movement of the type core faces into said object subsequent to marking of the indicia edges by the type stocks.

6. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a flat base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted, to define a back-up plate for said object; a positioning arm pivotally connected to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object, said case including a box-like housing and a cover mounted on the upper end of the housing for limited sliding movement thereon in the direction of the lower end of the housing; a series of type cores secured to said cover within the case and having imprinting faces at one end adapted to be forced into said object on swinging movement of the case thereagainst, said cores having enlarged heads at their other ends defining circumferential shoulders on the cores; a series of type stocks circumposed about the type cores within the housing and having cutting faces arranged to mark the edges of the indicia to be imprinted by the cores; means interengaging between the type stocks and housing to hold the stocks against movement relative to the housing, said cores having limited sliding movement relative to the stocks; and compressible means interposed between the stocks and the shoulders of the cores, and adapted to be compressed following movement of the cutting faces of the type stocks into said object, for movement of the type core faces into said object subsequent to marking of the indicia edges by the type stocks.

7. An imprinter of the hand operated type, comprising: a flat base adapted for positioning in underlying relation to an object to be imprinted, to define a back-up plate for said object; a positioning arm pivotally connected at one end to the base to swing toward and away from said object; a type case carried by said arm to swing therewith against said object, said case including a box-like housing clamped to the other end of the arm and acover mounted on the upper end of the housing for limited 7 sliding movement in the direction of the lower end of the housing, said lower end of the housing being formed open; a series of type cores disposed within the housing, said cores and cover having registering openings; :1 key removably positioned through said openings for assembling the cores With the cover, said cores having imprinting faces at one end extendabie through the open lower end of the housing to be forced into said object on swinging movement of the case thereagainst, said cores having enlarged heads at their other ends defining circumferential shoulders on the cores; a series of type stocks circumposed about the type cores Within the housing and having cutting faces arranged to marl; the edges of the indicia to be imprinted by the cores; means interengaging between the type stocks and housing to hold the stocks against movement relative to the housing, said cores having limited sliding movement relative to the stocks; and compressible washers circumposcd about the respective cores and interposed between the stocks and said shoulders, said washers being adapted for compression following movement of the cutting faces of the type stocks into said object, for movement of the type core faces into said object subsequent to marking of the indicia edges by the type stocks.

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